Friction clutch



:April 5,1927;

D. ,:QAMBLE FRIcTlo'N cLTcH Filed Nov ma@ @N Patented Apr; 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,623,470 PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. GAMBLE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORG & BECK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

Fmc'rIoN CLUTCH. v

Application led November 28, 1923. Serial No. 6772385.

The main object of this invention is to provide improved construction for a friction lclutch of the type shownfand described ini my co-pending application Serial No. 659,482,

filed August 27,1923, the friction clutch disclosed in that application being adapted to be incorporated 1n a motor driven vehicle or the like.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a friction clutch of the character described having improved'means for adjusting the clutch to take up wear between the driving and driven' elements of the clutch, the improved adjusting means serving to reduce the number of parts, required in the clutch and also serving to facilitate the task of the operator so that the clutch may be adjusted quickly and easily.

Other objects of m invention will become apparent as the etail description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a friction clutch embodying the novel fea.

tures o f inyinvention, and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the lower portion of the figure having parts broken away to better show certain details of the invention.

In the drawing, the reference character 10 designates a crank shaft of the type usually employed in internal combustion engines of self-propelled vehicles or the like. The crank shaft 10 is formed with an integral flange 11 to which is rigidly secured by bolts 12 a flywheel 13. The flywheel 13 is provided with an integral annular flange 14 which may be described as an annulus disposed concentrically and longitudinally with 40 respect to the flywheel and with respect .to

a friction surface 14a formed upon the flywheel. A centrally apertured plate 15 is 4provided with an annular shoulder 15 which seats upon the outer edge of the annular flange 14, the construction'being such that the apertured plate 1'5 may be defined as a plate rotatably journaled upon the annular flange 14. The apertured plate 15 may be secured in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions with respect to the annular flange 14 by means of a plurality of `bolts 16 making screw threaded engagement with the annular flange 14. For that purpose, eachof the bolts -16 is provided with a cupshaped washer 17 having a shoulder 17a adapted to make frictional engagement with a marginal portionof the apertured plate 15. It is apparent that the bolts 16 may be tightened to cause the washers 17 to .hold the plate 15 in an-angularly adjusted position. 'Io facilitate angular displacement of the plate 15 with respect to the annular flange 14, I prefer to provide a plurality of outstanding lugs 18 on the apertured plate. When the apertured plate is to be brought to .an adjusted position, it is only necessary for the operator to loosen the several bolts 16, after which, it will .be a comparatively simple matter torotate the apertured plate by -means of the outstanding lugs. .After the plate has been brought to 1ts adjusted position it may be secured in this posltion by tightening the'several bolts r16. The purpose of this construction will',

appear presently.

As best shown in Fig. 1', one end of a driven shaft 19 projects through the central aperture in the plate 15. This end of the driven shaft 19 is rotatably journaled in a pilotbearing 22 disposed in the driving end of the crank shaft 10, the axes of the crank shaft and the driven shaft being coincident. A friction disk 23 disposed intermediate the aforementioned friction surface 14 and the plate 15 is splined to the driven shaft 19 by means of a sleeve 24 to which the friction disk. 23 is rigidly secured by rivets 25. It is apparent/that the driven shaft/19'will rotate with the friction disk 23 and that the friction disk 23 may be moved longitudinally of the driven shaft 19. Disposed con-4 centrically with the friction disk 23 and'. adjacent thereto is a thrust ring 26 havin a .plurality of transverse slots 27 adapte to receive the heads of a plurality of pins l28 pressed or driven into the annular flange 14. The pins 28 cause the thrust ring 26 to` rotate with the flywheel 13 but permit the thrust ringV to be moved longitudinally of the fiywheel'13 and .the driven shaft 19. The reference characters 30- and 31 designate a pair of friction rings, the ,friction ring 30 beingdisposed between the friction surface 14a and the friction disk 23, andthe friction ring` 31v being ydisposed between the friction vdisk 23 and the thrust ring 26.

To force the thrust ring ,26 toward the friet-ion surface 14a so as to effect a driving engagement between the crank shaft 10 and the driven shaft 19, I provide a plurality of 110 levers 32 which are arranged radially with respect to the coincident axes of the crank shaft 1 0 and the driven shaft 19. Each of the levers 32 is pivotally secured intermediate its ends by a pin33 toithe apertured plate 15, the apertured plate 15 being provided with a plurality of vintegral bearing lugs 33"L for this purpose. that when the plate 15 is angularly adjusted with respect to the annular iiange 14, the outwardly extending arms 37 of the levers 32 will be adjusted angularly with respect to the cammed thrust seats 38 formed upon the thrust ring 26. `Th-is construction will permit the distance between the thrust seat engaging surfaces of the arms 37 and the iction ringengaging surface of the thrust ring 26 to be increased, thus enabling the operator to adjust the clutch whenever it is necessary to take up wear between the driving and driven elements of the clutch.

eco .of the followin claims: v at...

The inwardly extending arm 40 of each of thelevers 32 rides in an annular grgove- 41 turned in a',collar 42 arranged concentriskilled in fthe art.

cally with the' axis of the driven shaft-19. IThe collar 42 is rotatably journaled upon a clutch throw-out sleeve'43L which is in turn rotatably journaled4 upon the driven shaft 19, a ball bearing 44 having inner and outer races 45 and 46 being interposed between the collar 42 and the sleeve 43. The collar 42 is provided with a flange 43' which formsg ajsea't fora spiral spring 47 'interposedbef tween the flange 48 and the apertured plate 15, the apertured plate 15 havlng an outwardly projecting flange 4'7a formed integral therewith for retaining the spring in its proper position. In the operation of the" device, the spiral spring 47'will yleldmgly hold the levers 32 in positions whereln theyeiiect a driving engagement between the cranky shaft 10 and the driven shaft 19,

except when vthe operator throws out the.

clutch, which he does by'means of,a forked lever 50 in a manner well known tothose The chief advantage angularlywith respect tothe cammedthrust seats 38, thus making unnecessary the use fof an additional ring or the like as shown'and described in my colpending application.

Iam aware that changes in the foi in,"con` struction and arrangement of parts may be' made' -without departingfrom the spirit I and without sacrificing the `advantages; 'of lthi'e invention and I reserve j the right .to-make" such' changes1-asfairly fall within the" all" It is apparent.

"said iywheel and said plate and adapted to said plate l set forth.

of a driving 'element including an annulus disposed concentrically. and longitudinally .with respect to the rotary axis of the driving element, a centrally apertured plate seated upon the annulus, a plurality of shouldered Washers adapted to frictionally engage the margin of the -apertured plate, a plurality of bolts threadedly engaging the annulus for drawing the shouldered washers against the apertured plate to hold it int a plurality ofv angularly adjusted positions with respect to the annulus, a driven shaft, a driven element secured to rotate with the driven shaft, a thrust ring having a cammed thrust seat, means pivotally secured to the apertured plate and adapted to operatively engage the thrustseat, and yielding means cooperating with the pivotal means andthe thrust v'ring for holding the driving and driven elements in frictional engagement.

2. In a friction clutch,"thecombination of a driving element including a rotatable friction member having Aan annular iange projecting longitudinally thereof and concenplate seated upon the 'annular flange, the centrally apertured platebeing of a diameter greater than lthe insideY diameter ofthe annular flange, means carried by the annular .a plurality of angularly adjusted positionsl ,'yvithrespect-to the annular flange, a driven shaft, a driven element -secured to rotate vvith the driven shaft, a thrust ring having a cammedthrust seat, means pivotally se. cured to the apertured lplate and adapted to' operatively engage the thrust seat, and yielding meanscooperating with theI pivotal means and the thrust ring for holding the driving and driven elements in frictional en- 3. In combination, a drivingshaft having a flywheel thereon, a. driven shaft disposed f co-axially with said driving shaft, a plate -of this construction is its simplicity andthe ease with whichthe secured to saiddiywheel and being apertured for the passage Aotsaid driven shaft therethrough, friction elements disposed between cooperate with said flywheel and said driven sha-.ft to operatively connect saidV shafts, radlally disposed levers pivotedon -trically therewith, a centrally apertured.-

.fflange and adapted to engage marginal pori tlons of the apertured plate to clamp it in the lnnersurface of said plate and control-g` 1in-g said frictioneiemenfs, a sonar, siidablesm jon said d rivenshaft and engaging Saidflefvers to operate the same, a .thrust ring' hav' ving cammedthrus't lseats forV cooperation with said levers, and a spring disposed ,on the outer surface of saidplate 'and between and .said `collar, for the purposel 4. In combination, a driving shaft having aflywheel thereon, a driven shaft disposed .Y coLaXiallyvwith said driving shaft, a plate 1 3 secured to said flywheel and being apertured for the passage of said driven shafttherethrough. friction elements disposed between said flywheel and said plate and adapted to co-operate with said flywheel and said driven shaft to operatively connect said Shafts. a cam ring co-operating with said friction elements, levers pivoted on the inner surface of said plate and engaging said cam ring, a collar slidable on said driven shaftl said flywheel and said plate andadapted t".

co-operate with said flywheel andsaid driven shaft to operatively connect. said shafts, radially vdisposed levers pivoted on the inner surface of said plate and controlling said friction elements, a collar slidable on said driven shaft and engaging said levers .to operate the same, a thrust ring having cammed thrust seats for cooperation with said levers, and a spring disposed on the outer Surface of said plate and between said plate and said collar, said plate having an annular flange upon its outer surface to receive said spring, for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination, a driving shaft, a flywheel on said driving shaft and having an annulus thereon. a driven shaft disposed eoaxially with said driving shaft. a plate having a shoulder received in said annulus to support the plate in position, said plate being apertured for the passage of said driven shaft therethrough. friction elements disposed between said flywheel and said plate and adapted to co-operate with said flywheel and said driven shaft to operatively connect said shafts. radially disposed levers pivoted 0n the inner surface of said lplate and controlling said friction elements, a thrust Vring having cammed thrust seats for cooperation with said levers. a collar slidable on said driven shaft and engaging said levers to operate the same, and a spring disposed on the outer surface of said plate and between said plate and said collar, for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination. a driving shaft. a flywheel on said driving shaft and having an annulus thereon. a driven shaft disposed co-axially with said driving shaft. a plate having a shoulder received in said annulus to support the plate in position. said plate being apertured for the passage of said driven shaft therethrough, friction elements disposed between 'said flywheel and said plate and adapted t'o co-operate with said flywheel and said driven shaft to operative- 1y connectsaid shafts, a cam ring cooperating with said frictionelements, levers pivoted on theinner surface of saidplate and contacting with said cam ring, a collar slidable on said driven shaft and engaging said levers to operate the same, a spring disposed on the outer surface 'of said plate and 'between said plate and said collar. and means detachably securing said plate to said annulus whereby upon release of said securing means said plate may be rotated in its plane to adjust the point-s of contact of said levers with said cam ring. 4

8. In combination, a driving shaft having a flywheel thereon, a driven shaft disposed co-axially with 'said driving shaft, a plate carried by said flywheel and being apertured for the passage of said driven shaft therethrough, friction elements disposed between said flywheel and said plate and adapted to co-operate with said flywheel and vsaid driven shaft to operatively conneet. said shafts. a cam ring co-operating with said frictionv elements, levers pivoted on the inner surface of said plate and en-` gaging 'said cam rmg, a collar shdable onv said driven shaft and engaging said levers to operate the same, a spring disposed on the outer surface of said plate and between said plate and said collar, and means for securing said plate lto vsaid flywheel buteapable of being loosened, whereby upon loosening of said securing means said plate may benadjusted in its plane to vary the points of contact of said levers with said cam ring. l

driven shaftand engaging said levers to operate the same, a spring disposed on the outer surface of said plate and between said plate and said collar, co-operating means on Said flywheel and on said plate to mainlll' tainsaid plate in operative position, andv means securing said plate'to said flywheel against axial movement. said means capable of being loosened. whereby upon loosening of said securing means said plate may be adjusted in its plane to vary the points of contact of said levels with said cam ring.

DAVID E. GAMBLE. 

